Apparatus for precooling lading at shipping points



July 1,1930. c. A. MOORE A 1,769,033

- APPARATUS FOR PRECOOLING LADING AT SHIPPING POINTS Filed Jan. 5, 19273 Sheets-Sheet 1' Snow doc Chafles Moe July 1, I930. c. A. MOORE1,769,033

APPARATUS FOR PRECOOLING LADING AT SHIPPING POINTS Filed Jan. 5, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Q gvwe'ntoz Charles ]v[o ore attowwqs July 1, 1930. c. A.MOORE 1,769,033

APPARATUS FOR PRECOOLING LADING AT SHIPPING POINTS Filed JarI. s, 1927 aSheets-Sheet s M Mr m m m .0 m m o a a x m In w l W III I M c H 1 I I MlI/I/Il/I/ l l I I l I I l I I l I I l l I I I I I I I I I l I I I l I ll I I l I I l l I I I I I I I I I I I l I l I mm 0 wVw Q vw I .PatentedJuly 1, 1930 &

UNITED STA QOFFICE CHARLES A. MOORE, F ZEIDINA, MINNESOTA APP.l-LRA'NTSITOR PRECOOLING LADING AT SHIPPING POINTS Application filed January 3,1927. Serial No. 158,766.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus particularly, thoughnot exclu sively, for prescooling lading at shipping facilities for thetemporary storage of produce under conditions wherein the field andanimal heatmay be in process of extraction therefrom and whereby suchprocess may continue during the loading of such produce in refrigeratorcars.

conditioning and maintaining the atmospheric condition in the car notonly before and after the loading and unloadingthereof;

but duringthe loading and unloadingfthereof, as well.

With the description, the invention resides in the novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the drawings whereinFig.1 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line 1 -1 of Fig. 2; Fig.2 is a horizontal sec- 7 tional' view taken as on the line 22 of Fig.

1; and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line 33 ofFig- 2.

' Reference being. had to the drawings, it

will be seen that a room structure A pro- -vides a room B with sidewalls 10 and 11, end walls 12 and a floor proper 13. Spaced above thefloor proper is a false floor 14 formed of spaced slats or otherwisesuitably constructed in perforated form to provide for the passage ofair upwardly therethrough from the space -13 between said floor proper13 and said false floor 14. Along the side wall 10 of the structure Aare doorways 15 fitted with doors 16, said doorways providing access tothe room B- through which produce may be taken into the room or removedtherefrom. The op- It is also an object of my invention to provide meansapart from a car for desirably posite side wall 11 is also formed withdoorways 17 therein. These doorways l7 preferably are spaced apart adistance equal to the distance betweendoorways of coupled refrigeratorcars, as at 18, and are disposed in elevation so that they willregister, respectively, with the doorwaysof the refrigerator carslocated alongside the building structure. For each doorway 17 I providean accordion-like casing 19, one'end of each casing being secured to theoutside of the side wall 11 about the margin of its respective doorway17. Each casing 19. may be collapsed to take position closely againstthe outerysurface of the sidewall 11 and may be extended so that theouter end thereof will Tmeet the marginal portion, of the doorway of arefrigerator car registering with the doorway 17 about which the inner.end of the casing 19 is p1aced.- The usualgangplank 20 used to span thespace bev tween the sill of the doorway 17 of the. foregoing andotherobjects in view, which will appear in the following building structureand the sill of the doorway of a car 18 rests within the expanded casing19 slightly above the bottom thereof. A suitable door 21 of the slidingor otl1er type is provided for each doorway 17 in the side wall 11 ofthe structure A. lVhen the casing 19 for a particular doorway 17 isextended into position with the outer end thereof meeting the marginalportion of the doorway of the car, the respective door 21 is opened, andwhen the casing is collapsed, said door is closed. F s

From the foregoing it will be understood that the casings 19 provideenclosed gangways between the room B and cars 18 disposed alongside theroom structure. And with such gangways provided between the room andcars it will be apparent that produce may be trucked into the cars fromthe room or from the cars'to the room without opening either room orcars to the outer atmosphere. Further, if there is any differencebetween the temperature of the. air within a car and the temperature ofthe air within the room, it will be comprehended that an equalization oftemperatures be- 7 tween room and car will take place under gravity; forexample, if the temperature to the upper portion of the room.

Within the room, I provide a device for affecting the temperature of theair therein. This device includes an upright casing C disposedtransversel of the building structure and substantia y midway betweenends ofthe room, saidcasing extending from a point beneath the floorproper 13 of the room structure A to the ceiling 22 thereof.

In the portion of the casing I arrange a horizontal partition 23 havingperforations 24 therein or bein otherwise perforated to permit of thethrough. Extensions 25 of the u per portions vof the sides of the casingtogether with a bottom member 26 provide a com partment D at, theceiling of the room,

-which compartment communicates through an openin ,27 in the end of saidcasing C with the air header E provided in said casing between theceiling of the room and the horizontal perforated partition 23. At,either.

side of the casing G and adjacent the ceiling 22 of the room B isa duct28, eachduct having an elongated opening 29 therein along the ceiling ofthe room and bein fitted with a damper 30 at the open end t ereof whichcommunicates with said compartment D through an opening 31 in theside ofthe casing. Also communicating with this oomEartment D is 3, dependingbranch duct 32, t ted with a damper 33 and which communicates at thelower end. thereof with a long horizontal duct 34 passing abo ve thedoorways 17 in the side wall 11 of the room structure A. Said ,long,horizontal duct 34 is provided at its lower side'with openings 35 (Fig.3), one for eachdoor-f way 17. Each of these openin s 35' is an rangedalong the upper edge 0 its respective doorway and extends from side toside thereof, and a curtain 36, provided for each opening, hangs fromthe duct 34, being se-. cured at its upper edge alon the transverseedges of the-opening 35 an inner longitudi'iial edge of said opening toform a flexible hood or depending extension of the duct 34 adjacent tothe upper portion of its respective doorway'l7. Within the chamber'F,provided in the casing C beneath the horizontal partition 23, arecoiled, pipes 37 for a temperature affecting me dium. Near the lowerportion of said cas-.'

" .ing C and formed in the sides thereof are elongated openings 38, thesame providing communications between said chamber -F and the space 13at either side of the casing own flow of air there-f also. along the erair rising about produce stacked upon the false floor 14, the air fromthe s ace 13 between said floor proper 13 and alse floor 14 risesthrough the latter, all of said air, except as hereinafter noted,passing upwardly to the upper portion of the room, whence it is drawninto and through the duets 28 to the compartment D, whence it passesinto the air header E and, thence, downwardly into the chamber F tobegin its-cycle anew. With a car 18 and with a gangway enclosing casing19 in place, as shown in Fig. 3, and with the damper 33 in the dependingduct 34 open, a part of the cold air issuing through the false floor 14at the bottom of the room B finds a read path into thecar through thelower portion of, said casing 19, such air thus entering 'the car andrising-along the warmer walls thereof and about any warmer producewithin the car tinds a ready path from the car through theflupperportion of the gangway casing 19, thence through the upper portion ofthe doorway 17 to the hooded opening 35 of the duct 34, whence said airpasses along said duct 34, thence upwardly through" the branch duct 32to the compartment D where it meets the incoming air fromthe' ducts 28and joins the same in completing "the cycle of movement.

In the event that a heated medium is contained within the pipes 37 .inthe chamber ;F, the movement of air in the casing G, --.roomv B and car.18 occurs reversely in the cycles aboveexplained.

To augment the movement of 'air under refrigeration, I employ within thechamber F of the'casing C, beneath the perforated partition 23 therein,a number of downwardl directed spray nozzles 39. A supply of re'rigerating liquid is contained inv the bottom of the casing C, in a tankG in which said liquid is stored with the surface thereof atalcvelslightly beneath the lower edges of the elongated openings 38 inthe sides of the casing G. Within the tank G and submerged in the liquidtherein are coiled from the tank G to the nozzles 39 and sprayeddownward over the coiled pipes 37 and against the surface of the liquidin of the room structure Ais rovidediwith a gutter 44 at either side 0the casing (3,.

adjacent the lower edge of each elongated opening 38, andsaid floor issloped downward from the opposite ends of the room structure A to .saidgutters to provide for Y drainage, a sewer connection ,45,be1ng fittedto eachjof saidfguttersaf Totminim zethe loss of splashing liquidthrough. the openings 38. 'inr the cas ng QQ 'I- provide at the upperinneredgef'oi each opening a 'bafile',

Supplementing the action of the .spray nozzles 39in s'timulatin theflowof air in the casing 0, room B anfa car 18 is a blower 4:7 situatedin the compartment D. When said blower idle, it does not-substantially.

interfere with'thepassage of-air from the compartmentu D. t'offtheheader E, ,but wh'en said blower inbperation it effectively "with theintake of saidblower and at its otherend stimulates the movement of airin the casing C and in the room B'andin a car 18;

In use, under refrigeration or' heating, the casinga 2. na tructureormmg a room havmg air withmthe room B alone may be condi tioned' bygravity or the air w1thin .;a car;

18 may be primarily conditioned by gravity,

or the conditioning ofgthe'air in both car.

and room ma be concurrently conditioned by gravity. nder'refrigerationand sup.- plementing gravity,.-the use of the nozzles 39 and the use ofthe blower 47'concurrently; or separately may be had to condition-theair in the room along or primarilyin'the' car, or concurrentlyinbothroom and- 'car ditioning the air in the room v 'g are spotted alongsidethe! oomffstructure,

' the gangway cas1ng'sr19j jmay I into positions ofuser lf thefca'r'sare empty',}. they may be prepared for transit before the loadingthereof,.or while thefloadingisbeitliou materially,-

difng', such i the handling of perishable produce'at ship altering thecondition fofth preparation mayjgtake place. are loaded and labor forunloading unavailable or the time forunloading inopportune,

the lading withinjthecars may be heldyilff its then condition orvtheprocess of; altering My invention is'highly advantageous i ping points.When the loading-orunload mg of cars is not taking place, that'produceplaced in the room-B is prepared or-heldi -'in condition for shipmentbyi suitablycon f be extended ing accomplished andj w the cars lading orthe continuance of the process in tendingr utward fr -structure,,-said{casing being adjustable to meetthe margiualportionsiof a doorwayin acarjjdisposed alongside said structure, and

d ngf 'andi tlie" w structure, said gangwa-y casing-providing an thelower portion thereof.

.a doorway therein, a casing during the unloading of i the" lading, whenit becomes convenient to unload. Thus it is evident that my inventionprovides for the desirable preservation of perishable produce and thehandling of relatively large quantities vthereof in minimum time and.-with.-a

minimum of storage space and transports! tion \equlpment. In short,labor, building.

under conditions promotmg the preservation th'ereofsf tion,uas hereindisclosed,:may be made with-2 .in the scope of what is claimed withoutde-Q partingfrom the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby'Let ters Patent is:

1. In a structure for ming a room having ing it to the action of-saidrefrigerating device, and a' ductcommunicating at one end upper ,portionof said a doorway ,{th'erein,- a gangway Y casing ex- 111; the doorwayin said means for aii",ecting the.temperature of the 7 air withinsa'id iorizontalair passageway,

v air ff'm'ay pass, in opposite direcons' et-ween room and car.

ln {structure forming a room having H a casing providing anenclosed,lgangway between said I doorway Oorway of a car alongside saidir passageway for a lower current of cold air from-theroom to. the carand an upper ;-'.currentof-warmer air from the carto'the room, arefrigeratlng device, means .for receiving the, airin said upper current'and -subjecting it to the action ofsaidrefriger ating device, and meansfor directing: the air, affected by said device, into the room at I: Ina r ure forming" mountains enclosed, gangway between structure, saidgangway casingp'roviding' oom,- said gangway' casing and transportationcosts are minimized in attendance with the handling of perishableproduce, in the maximum,

Chan es in the specific form of my inven- 1 913 and lower gravitating Png a 7 said ,doorway- 1 and'the doorway of a car alongside-said that jcondition initiated. And, of5=.c01 1rs'e,' the-maintenance of thecondition of said' 6. Inga the room, and means for directing the air,

affected by said device, into the lower portion of the room. I

5. In a structure forming a room having a doorway therein, a casingproviding an enclosed gangway between said doorway and the doorway of acar alongside said structure, said gangway, casing providing an airpassageway for a lower current of cold air from the room to the car andfor an upper current of warmer air from the car to the room, an airrefrigerating device, 3

a blower associated with said device for in troducing air thereto, aduct having an opening therein to receive said upper current of air,said duct communicating with,

the intake of said blower, and a second duct having an openin to receiveair from the u per portion of the room, said second duct a socommunicating with said intake of said blower, said refrigerating devicebeing in communication withv and adapted to supply refrigeratedairto thelower portion of the room'.' 1

a doorway therein, a" casing providing an enclosed angway between saiddoorway and the oorway of a car alongside said structure, said, gangwaycasing providing an air passageway fora lower current of cold air fromthe room to the car and for an upper current of warmer air from the carto. the room, an air refrigerating device, a blower associated with saiddevice for introducing air thereto, and a duct having an openin rent 0air,- said duct communicating with the intake of said blower, saidrefrigerating device being in communication with and adapted, to supplyrefrigerated air to the lower portion of the room.

7. In a structure forming a room having a doorway therein, a casingprovid ng an enclosed gangway between said doorway and the doorway of acar alongside said structure, said gangway casing providing an airassageway for a lower current of cold air om the room to the car-and foran upper current of warmer airz'from the car to the room, an upright airrefrigerating device adapted, by gravity, to take in air at its upperportion and discharge air'from the lower portion thereof into the lowerportion of the room, a duct opening at its lower end to receive air fromsaid upper current, said duct leading upward to the upper ingressportion of said refrigerating device.

8. In a structure orming a room having a doorway therein, a casingproviding an enclosed gangway between said doorway upper an structureforming a room having" therein to receive said upper curand the doorwayof a car alongside said structure, said gangway casing providing an airpassageway for a lower current of cold air from the room to the car andfor an upper current of warmer air from the car to the room, an uprightair refrigerating device adapted, by gravity, to take in air at itsupper portion and discharge air from the lower portion thereof into thelower portion of the room, said refrigeratin device includin adownwardly directe spray nozzle, the spray therefrom serving tosupplement the action of gravity and stimulate the flow of air in saidrefrigerating devic and in said room andcar. Y

9. In a structure forming a room having doorways therein, casings, onefor each doorway, each casing providing an enclosed gangway between itsrespective door of said room and the doorway of a car alongside saidstructure and, further, providing an air pas'sa eway therethrou h foropposed lower currents of air, and an air duct common to andcommunicating with each casing, said duct being adapted to convey theair constituting like currents in said casings.

7 10. Ina structure forming a room having a doorway therein, a casingproviding an enclosed gangway between said doorway and the doorway ofacar alongside said structure, said gangwa casing providing an airpassageway theret rough for opposed upper and lower currents of air, anair duct havin the side thereof through which lading ,may be carted toor from a car alongside said structure via a side door in said car, a

gangway casing adapted to enclose the space between the doorway of saidstructure and a door of a car, said gangway casing pro- .vidingahorizontal way for the passage of upper and lower currents ofgravitating air, one from room to car and the other from car to room.

12. In combination, a structure forming a room for perishable lading,means for introducing refrigerated air into the room at the lowerportion thereof and for taking off the warmer air from the upper portionof the room, said'structure having a doorway in the side thereof throughwhich lading may be carted to or from a car alongside said structure viaaside door in said car, a horizontal gangway casing adapted to enclosethe space between the door of said name to this specification.

CHARLES A. MOORE.

